ANOTHER RAID ON OSTEND

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 200, 13 May 1918, Page 5

ANOTHER RAID ON OSTEND

DARING EXPLOIT BY H.M.S. VINDICTIVE CRUISER SUNK AT HARBOUR ENTRANCE By Telegraph-Proas Association-Copyright. ■ . London, May 10.' The Admiralty reports: 'The operation designed to close the ports of Ostend and Zeebrugge was successfully completed on Thursday, when fhe obsolete cruiser Vindictive was sunk between the piers and across the entrance of (Mend harbour. Since the attack en. Zeobrngge, on April 22, the Vindictive had been filled with concrete and fitted as a blockship. Our light forces returned to their base with_ the loss of a motor-launch, which was damaged, and was tunk by the Vice-Admiral's orders, to prevent her falling into the enemy's hands. Our casualties were light. , '—Aus.-N.Z. Gable Assn.-Reuter. A VERY GALLANT OPERATION GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF THE BAID. •■-.-- • . (Ecc. May 12, 5.5 p.m.) ■ ■ ■ London, May 10. The rescue of the Vindiotive's crew was a very gallant operation under heavy fire. A great naval air raid, accompanied the Vindictive's raid. British monitors also bombarded Ostend. The Vindictive sank obliquely olf the pier, 150 or 200 yards therefrom. Monitors, destroyers, and smaller craft preceded 'he Vindictive to the entrance to Ostend. About 2 o'clock the weather suddenly thickened, and the Vindictive cruised for twenty minutes before, she sighted the pier. Her commander rnnimed her stem against the pier. The Vindictive grounded and the charges were blown. Vice-Admiral Keyes was present throughout the operations at Ostend, aboard a small craft, which was the last vessel to return to Dover. The flotilla of attackers afforded a splendid spectacle when leaving Dover. It was a calm, clear night. The Vindictivn was heavily sandbagged, having the place of'honnur._ She travelled slowly to Dunkirk, and thence to Ostend. which was brilliantly lighted by a powerful searchlight, bat the sea haze end artificial fogs concealed the British purpose until tho Vindictive was within a quarter of a milo of tho entrance to the Ostend harbour gates, when the Germans sent up a regular pyrotechnic display of Ftar shells, and guns on all sides opened fire, and continued until the Vindictive was sunk 150 yards inside the piers. Throughout four great monitors steadily bombarded the 6hore, while aeroplanes caused many fires. The Vindictive's success was secured despite the fact t'flat the Germans had heavily mined the seaway, in expectation of another attack. Silt will materially assist in the completion of the blocking up of the canal. Entrance Hidden by Fog. Monitors, destroyers, motor-launches, and. coastal motor-boats were placed at Captain Lynea's disposal by Vice-Admjral Keyes, and they assembled rt the entrance to Ostend at 1.45 in the morning. Fifteen minutes before the Vindictive was due the weather conditions were all that conld be desired, there being a calm sea and light wind, but before the Vindictive arrived a sea fog drifted towards *he shore, reducing the visibility to between 300 and 400 yards. The Vindictive therefore found it extremely difficult.to locate- the entrance, a:id was obliged to oruise backwards and forwards for twenty ininu.tes, seeking tlin entrance. Meanwhile the enemy had detected her presence, and the shore butteries opened a heavy fire. The Vindictive puffered a number of casualties before the piers were suddenly sighted almost alonguide. Thero was an intense fire from guns, which, with machine-guns, were now concentrated against the Vindictive. 1 he Vindictive, with a crew of 52, swung into the channel, and rail her stpm against the east pier, in order to swing the 6hip athwart the channel. Tho Vindictive grounded at the stern and would not swing, so her commander ordered all below to come on deck, while preparations wero'made to blow the charges. The members of the crew niado their escape in motor-launches, which gallantly ranged alongside f he Vindictive to eavo the crew, despite the heavy fire. The f allant rescuers were severely punished, one launch being sunk. The charges tvent off and the Vindictive settled down. During the raid not a single enemy vessel wiis sighted. Vindictive Manned by Volunteers, The Vindietive's crew consisted of volunteers drawn from ships <.f the Dover patrol. At 3.15 a.m. a rescuing motor-launch was picked up by the Warwick, which was Vice-Admiral Keyes'e flagship. From it 3S of the crew were taken aboard. One man died later. Captain Lynes, reporting on tho affair, warmly praises the gallantry of all engaged. The soa on tho outward journey could not have been more suitable for small craft. Visibility was good and there was no interference from enemy vessels. Tho small craft went to their stations, with destroyers in support. Tho tnemy was quiet until 1.45 a.m., when he opened a heavy fire. Our star (hells showed our smoke screens , to be progressing. Then the sky, which hitherto was inclouded, becauio obscured. Th« ski fog was so dense that it stopped our air attacks, and oven the searchlights wero invisible. The fog lasted for an hour, and then our air attacks wero resumed. The enemy's fire was assisted by searchlights, and was maintained for an hour. One motorlaunch, showing especial gallantry, ranged alongside the Vindictive, taking off an officer and two men who were left behind when the others escaped. Two launches gallantly searched the shore, despite tho heavy fire, but "ouiid nobody. The retirement began at 2.30 a.m., according to programme the inshore forces gradually closing on the destroyers. Two hundred shells fell round the British monitors, but there wero no hits or casualites. Aircraft which flew over Ostend to-day report thai; half the ohannel was blocked, and possibly it is usable by destroyers and submarines; but it ie useless for cruisers. Programme Carried Out Admirably, Tho naval men who participated returned to Dovor in the highest spirits. They looked thoroughly worn out after a sleopless night, bu,t were highly delighted with (he success attained. They state that the programme was carried out admirably. Tho smalt craft performed their task magnificently, The smoko'ecreen could not havo been better. The Vindictive, by striking tho harbour, had luck which was denied the Brilliant oa a former occasion. It is evident that tho men behaved splendidly, all being as koen as mustard.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. POSITION OF THE VINDICTIVE PARTIAL BUT SERIOUS BLOCKAGE ACHIEVED. ißec. May 12, 5.5 p.m.) It is now disclosed that tho previous attempt to block Ostend failed because the enemy had just previously moved a buoy a mile put of position. It is stated that there is no shadow of doubt about the present position. Tho Vindictive lies at an angle of W degrees betweon the piers, about 200 yards inside the entrance This has boen confirmed by photographs. The vessel does not effectively block the ohannel, which is twenty feet wider than her length, but a partial and most serious blockage has been achieved, and will certainly tend to increase under the conditions of tide and rapid silt prevailing along this coast. What is very important is that German light craft, when chased by our vessels, will not be able as hitherto, to rush full speed to shelter. Tho small number of British casualties indicates that tho enemy was surprised.—Reuter. OPINIONS ON THE RAID BEST TRADITIONS OF THE NAVY FULFILLED. New York May 10 Mr. Mason, tho United Press Association naval expert, states that tho clop ing of Ostend was a brilliant exploit. It took tho Germans comnletelv mi" ewares, and will force the U-boate to we their home bneee. The affair sueeosts a condition of demoralisation in the Ger mft n Navy, whilo the British are fiiilnllin* the best traditions of Drake «nd Nelson._A\w.-N.Z. Cablu Assn ,u »n«uig

PRAISE FROM THE NEW YORK PRESS. ■ (ltec. May 12, 11 p.m.) New York, May 10. New York newspapers ncoord much praiso to the British Navy for bottling up Gstond.-Aus.-N.Z. Giblo Assn. SUBMARINES INSTRUCTED NOT TO RETURN TO ZEEBRUGGE OR OS TEND. (Rec. May 12, 5.5 p.m.) ~ London, Slav 11. Ike limes' naval correspondent states: "Submarines lwing the Belgian pores have corfmnly buen deprived of muck freedom of movement, nnd they havo been insjMietod by wireless message.-; not to return to Zeebrug?e or Ostond. If they do so they w.ll find tho passage impeded by cur new North Sea minefields. Tt js hoped that before long tho fulfilment of otfwr plans will cause a decided shrinkage in the tonnage sinkings."—"Th o Times." GERMAN OFFICIAL VERSION OF THE EXPLOIT (Rec. May 12, 5.5 p.m.) ... _ London, May 11. A wireless German official report states: "The splandidly-direoted fire of our coastal batteries repelled several enemy vosela which vera endeavouring to penetrate Ostond harbour. An old cruiser lioa, completely battered by cur fire, aground outside the channel. The wholo entranco is quite clew. Two survivors who jumped overboard were taken prisoner. An attempt to block the port was completely frustrated. Wβ sank two motor-boats and badly damaged a monitor." —Atis.-N.15. Cable Assn.-Renter, BELGIAN WORKS AT NIEUPORT BOMBARDED. (Rec. May 12, 5.5 p.m.) A Belgian communique states: "German artillery bombarded the Belgian works and communications in tho Niouport zono during tho night whilo tho British were attacking tho coast."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Aesn.-Eouter. ZEEBRUGGE STILL BLOCKED AIRMEN PREVENTING CLEARING OPERATIONS. ....•,, . London, May 10. Although there is no official confirmation o£ tho statement from- Switzerland that submarines have been compelled to return to Gorman bases instead of to Zebrugge, a high naval authority reports that Zeebruggo is still blocked. Considerable aerial activity has been maintained there to prevent tho enemy from conducting clearing operations.—A-Us.-N.Z. C ablo Assn. (Dec. May 12, 8.5 p.m.)' London, May 11. It has been ascertained that silt at Zeebruggo is collecting very 'ast, despite dredging. Tho blocking cruisers are eo placed that any attempt to blow thorn up is fraught with danger to !)ie neighbouring permanent structure.--Eeuter. THE NEW BRITISH MINEFIELDS BARRAGE AT BOTH ENDS OF NORTH SEA COMPLETED. !R«c. May 12, 5.5 p.m.) London, May 11. Tho "Daily Mail" says: "Tho minefields comprise one of tho meet important undertakings of the war, and i ompleto the barrage at botli ends <f the North Sea. Submarines are able to penetrate to the Atlantic- only_ by using tie edge of the Norwegian waters, where the Admiralty presumably is taking ppecial measures to deal with an unavoidable gap."—United Service.